Summer is quickly approaching and that means vacations. Civil War battle sites are scattered all over the nation, and what a better time of year to check out the historic sites? But, with tough economic times you want to know where to go to get the most for your money. Civil war traveler.com has a lot of good ideas, and you can find a place close to you to save some cash. http://www.civilwartraveler.com/WEST/OH/index.html
Some of the most popular sites in the summer months are the battlefields up North because they are not as accessible in the winter months. My favorites are Gettysburg, and Antietam.
Depending on where you want to go depends on the price. Of course, prices are going to be more in the summer.
One of the more cool exhibits to travel is the “Discovering the Civil War” tour taking place this summer. It premiered in Washington D.C., but it will make its way to the Henry Ford Museum in Washington D.C., Houston Museum of Natural Science in Huston, Texas and the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville Tennessee. This would be really cost effective because you would be able to wait until it comes close to you to check it out. Each exhibit will display the original Emancipation Proclamation!
http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2011/nr11-113.html
Last summer I went to the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, and they had the chair that Lincoln was shot in! This was one of the more exciting parts of their exhibit, but it makes it extremely worth the visit. That would be one I would recommend. To get in I believe that it is $50 dollars, but that is including the outdoor exhibits. If you just wanted to see the Civil War exhibit it would be much more cost effective.
http://www.thehenryford.org/
Going to these types of sites can get you a lot more for your money than visiting a battle site, because of the gas and hotel cost. If you can get a large group to go though, then you can go relatively cheap. Last time I went to Gettysburg the whole week was only 200 dollars for a hotel, because of the size of our group. The museum of Confederacy even has its own travel package. http://www.moc.org/site/PageServer?pagename=visit_travel
Another way to save money at sites is to take the self guided car tours. You can pick up the CD’s at the travel stations, and then drive yourself around the battlefield. This is usually below $20, and the bus tours can be over $40 a person. Economically, it is evident which one makes sense.
The best way I have found to save money on these trips in addition to everything else is packing food. You can save a bundle by bringing food for breakfast and lunch everyday.
There will be a lot of re-enactments to see this summer because it is the 150th anniversary.
